Cleanout



April 9- c. A. BAHRUTH 35 CLEANOUT Filed March 5, 1946 FINISH WALL Patented Apr. 12, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to clean-outs for plumbing systems, especially the waste and vent portions of such systems.

The present accepted method of installing clean-outs in a waste system requires that cleanouts be installed at stated intervals on a horizontal line, at the bases of vertical stacks, at right angle turns, and within a specified distance of the sink trap. Experienced engineers specify a clean-out above the trap on urinal waste lines. In buildings of masonry construction, the cleanouts are enclosed in furred utility spaces which are made accessible through access doors or panels. Another installation in wide use is the flush clean-out located near but below the floor level and made accessible by a removable cover plate set flush with the finish floor. All these arrangements have the definite health hazard of contamination due to the fact that the clean-outs are located below the rim of the plumbing fixture. Since water establishes its own level, where two or more vertical lines are connected to a common horizontal line, a plugged waste line may cause a group of fixtures to stand full of contaminated water to the height of the lowest fixture rim in the group. Opening of a conventional clean-out would create an outlet for this liquid waste, thus flooding and polluting areas, floors and/or furred utility closets.

In accordance with the invention, the improved clean-out is designed for installation well above the rim of the lowest fixture. The clean-out is furthermore accessible, is located at all points where stoppage may occur, and is so made that all matter causing the stoppage is readily removed. More specifically the improved cleanout is installed on the vent above the fixture, thereby eliminating the evil consequences of locating clean-outs on lines that are submerged when stoppages occur.

It is a fact well known to plumbers that a fixture which is trapped but does not have a vent to the atmosphere drains sluggishly, making objectionable noises as it wastes. With continued use a certain amount of the waste matter backs up into the vent. This is especially true when the waste line is partially plugged, and as it drains a portion of the contaminated waste sticks to the sides of the vent and in time the vent may become completely closed, creating a non-vented fixture which is subject to siphonage as well as the objectionable noises mentioned above.

With the improved clean-out properly installed in the vent line above the fixture, a flexible coil spring cable, which is in common use, can be run through the vent to and through the stoppage,-

thus clearing all obstructions in the vent and waste lines. Water then draining from the stopped-up fixture will wash the cable sufficiently clean, and the system will be restored to its original condition. The improved clean-out can be used on any concealed liquid carrying line where clean-outs are necessary.

In the accompanying drawings showing several novel arrangements employing the clean-out,

Fig. 1 is an-elevation showing the clean-out connected to a vent line above a fixture, partially shown in phantom;

Fig. 2 is an elevation showing the clean-out installed on a Y branch and above the rim of the fixture, whose level is indicated by a dot-anddash line;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the clean-out;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the same; and

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Referring particularly to the drawings, and first to Fig. l, the clean-out 6 is connected to the vent line 1 by means of a standard I. P. S. nipple 8, which is of such length that the face of the clean-out lies flush with the finish wall line, as shown. This connection is made at a point well above the rim of the fixture 9, here shown as as wash basin.

Referring to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the clean-out 6 consists of an outwardly flaring main body or casting III, of some non-corrodible metal, having a centrally arranged ring or tubular boss ll tapped with a female thread I2 to accommodate nipple B, and also tapped with a male thread IS. The end of the boss is finished to make an airtight joint with a fiber washer l4 placed between the boss end and the faced non-corrodible hexagonal cap [5. Cap I5 screws on the male thread l3 and thereby clamps the fiber washer. Casting H1 is made heavy at the four corners, as will be understood without illustration, and is drilled and tapped at those corners to receive screws I6 which secure a fiat face plate l1.

Preferably face plate I! is chrome plated and is precision-drilled on a center line, and countersunk on the back to accommodate screws which hold accessories, such as the tumbler holder l8, Fig. 1, or some other accessory, for example a toothbrush holder, robe hook, razor strop hook, toilet paper holder, soap dispenser or soap dish. The only part of the clean-out which is visible will add to the beauty of the room and will securely support some needed accessory, whose attachment to most walls is frequently a problem.

In the arrangement of Fig. 2, the Y branch l9 makes it possible to vary the location of the accessories relative to the fixture. Other arrangements will occur to those skilled in the art.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A sanitary clean-out consisting of a hollow body having a boss, said boss being adapted to receive a nipple, a cap screwed on the boss, a washer clamped between the cap and the end of the boss, and a face plate concealing the cap and the inside of the body.

2. A sanitary cleanout comprising an outwardly flaring body portion having a central tubular member, one end of which is adapted to receive a nipple attached to a vent pipe and the other end of which projects a short distance into the interior of the body portion, a cap for closing the end of said tubular member opposite the nipple receiving portion, and a face plate for said flaring body portion concealing said cap and the interior of the body portion.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 20 1,590,504 Gottesburen et al. June 29, 1926 1,592,382 Munn July 13, 1926 

